Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Jaded By Rain ❯ The Price of Freedom ( Chapter 5 )

Jaded By Rain

By, Jamie1317kast

 

In the world today the price of Freedom is the taking of many lives, the sacrifice of few for the overall good of many. But this struggle is a world away. What if the price of Freedom was, instead, much closer? What if the price of Freedom was nearer or dearer to your heart than you ever expected it to be… would you still be willing to pay the price?

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Furuba, they are copyright to Natsuki Takaya-sensei. My own characters are Ryoko Sohma, Gabriel Sohma, Takamichi Sohma, Taichii Okinawa, Rumiko Young-Li, Chang Wong, Shi Fu-Li, Xiao Fua, Yueh Sohma, Saizo Chung, and if any other of my characters pop up I'll let you know.

 

Author's Notes: so far, of my own characters, you have only really met Ryoko Sohma. The characters that you have seen pieces of and/or only heard about are Gabriel Sohma, Takamichi Sohma, Taichii Okinawa, Rumiko Young-Li, and Saizo Chung. Let's do a quick rundown/review of who's who since you'll be meeting some of these people in the upcoming chapters.

Ryoko Sohma~ Lead Character, Cat. Moved to Japan from China.

Gabriel Sohma~ Ryoko's older brother, Rat. Leader of the Chinese Mafia, and a ninja.

Takamichi Sohma~ Ryoko's father, Dragon. Real-estate agent, ran off with an outsider (Ryoko's mom.)

Taichii Okinawa~ Son of the Japanese ambassador to China, Outsider. Raped Ryoko when she was 14.

Rumiko Young-Li~ Ryoko's Mother, Outsider. Daughter of the previous leader of the Chinese Mafia.

Saizo Chung~ An old friend of Ryoko's, Outsider.

Oh, and I'm telling you right now, Takamichi's character probably isn't going to make any sense. Or at least he'll be hard to figure out. Just so you know.

 

Rated R for adult situations and just in case.

 

The Price of Freedom:

 

New Year's came and went, with the Cats falling more deeply in love with each other than ever before. Once Ryoko learned that she could not attend the Zodiac Banquet, she flat out refused to go. " I'm not going to the party just so people can laugh about my not attending the Banquet with the rest of you. You can tell Akito to stick it where the Sun don't shine, 'cuz frankly I don't give a damn."

Kyo had all but agreed with Ryoko. So the two of them had stayed home for New Year's. They'd had sex just about everywhere in the house, with the wickedly delicious feeling that they were doing something illegal. With their teenage hormones driving them, Kyo and Ryoko had sex everywhere but the ceiling. The stairs, the porch, the roof, the kotatsu, against the wall, in the shower, the bathtub, the upstairs hallway, the downstairs hallway, the kitchen floor, Kyo's room, Ryoko's room, even Yuki's room just for shits and grins, Shigure's room, and Shigure's writing table in his study just to name a few places. ^_~

Naked and lovemaking hour after hour, they began to love each other all over again. Learning just where to touch each other to get the most desired re-actions, so that by the 3rd day after New Year's their sex couldn't have been more perfect.

Shigure and Yuki returned home on the 3rd after New Year's. Yuki was in good spirits because he was finally away from Sohma House, and Shigure as well because he was looking forward to a whole 'nother year of torturing his editor.

Upon entering the house Shigure's nose perked up, true to his Dog-self Shigure had an inhuman sense of smell. Though Ryoko and Kyo were sitting quietly around the kotatsu reading and watching TV, Shigure would truly be a fool if he couldn't smell the scent of excessive sex. He continued to watch them quietly after greeting them, trying to scent out exactly how many times they'd done it.

Yuki, oblivious and half-asleep, eventually found his way up the stairs and to his room, flopping down on his bed. Ryoko and Kyo glanced at each other, and snickered. Ryoko burst out into uncontrollable laughter and Kyo along with her. Even Shigure couldn't resist a chuckle or two, that is, until he made his way into his own rooms.

' On my writing…table…oh my…my bed…' Shigure's thoughts faltered as he looked around his room and study, " You two are disgusting!" he called out down the hall.

Ryoko and Kyo laughed harder. " W-we know!" They choked out between hilarious bursts and fits of laughter, each one funnier than the last.

 

A bright sunny day, rather warm for such an early spring. But the perfect day, nonetheless, for a whopping game of volleyball to kick off everyone's Junior (2nd) year of high school. The new term had only that day just begun and already Ryoko felt the indefatigable pressure of the coming year pressing down upon her shoulders.

Ryoko gathered herself, Kyo, Yuki, Hatsuharu, and Momiji. Momiji opted to keep score in his notebook, while the two Cats decided to play against the Rat and the Ox. As Kyo and the rest took their places, he shouted out across the park-court to Yuki. " I'm gonna beat you this time you damn Rat!" He yelled, pointing at Yuki who just sighed.

" Wait, wait, I think I've heard this one before." Yuki sarcastically shot back to Kyo who growled and projected obscenities in Yuki's general direction.

The game started with Haru serving the ball, continuing in a fierce battle excluding both the Ox and Ryoko. Neither boy was willing to give up; they were both as stubborn as…well…men.

When the ball finally fell on Kyo's side with a point going to Yuki, Ryoko got to serve. She held the ball up; ready to strike it across and over the net when she stopped.

Ryoko's eyes were transfixed on the court entrance, or rather, the man standing at the gate itself. Eyes wide, the ball dropped, bouncing away. With each bounce of the ball Ryoko's heart skipped, she couldn't believe it.

A breeze picked up and blew Ryoko's braids out, also causing the man's snow-white hair to fall adorably into his eyes. He puffed his cheeks out, and blew the straying strands to dance away from his face.

" Xiao Mei…" The man intoned softly, though Ryoko heard him perfectly. " Nii-san!" She cried out joyfully, " Da geh! Big Brother!" Forgetting Kyo and the others, she ran to him, braids flying out behind her like ribbons. He caught her up in his arms, holding her tight. " Little Sister, how I have missed you. I am so happy that you, too, are also happy."

Kyo realized that this was him, the brother he'd read about in Ryoko's diary. Gabriel Sohma, a Rat, and the leader of the Chinese Mafia.

 

" It's been so long Ga-nii-san!" Ryoko smiled at her brother, " Yes, it has been far too long, Ry-nee-chan." Gabriel smiled back at her. Kyo and the others watched from afar. For reasons he couldn't explain, Kyo was suddenly jealous of Gabriel. Gabriel was holding Ryoko much too close, and was being far too familiar with her for Kyo's liking. But neither was Kyo stupid, he wouldn't pick a fight with Gabriel, not with the don of the Chinese Mafia.

Gabriel was white, not just his hair, but his cloths as well. He wore formal pants, a butler's shirt with cuffs on the end, a tight vest, and a tie. All were white. Oh, not to mention his slacks (shoes) were white as well. His skin was of a Chinese tan, the same as Ryoko's. And his eyes were red. A brilliant color that shone out like illuminated blood.

However, despite Gabriel's odd appearance, he gave off a distinct air of calm and gentleness. He spoke softly, his formal Japanese even more decorous than Yuki's way of speaking. A liquid tenor, with his white apparel drapped around him, one might vaguely wonder if Gabriel was not an Angel sent from Heaven rather than a Mafia don.

Gabriel released his sister and smiled. Then, he turned and gestured to the parked car behind him. Kyo's mouth dropped. A limo, long and sleek and white, was pulled up next to the curb. Kyo felt inadequate.

The door to the car opened slowly, and a man stepped out. He was shorter than Gabriel was, but taller than Ryoko. His pale skin was tired and wrinkled his green eyes dulled and old. His graying hair was pulled back to the base of his neck, and his likewise grey kimono only served to make him look smaller than he really was. Ryoko's father, Takamichi Sohma, a Dragon.

Kyo was too far away to hear what they were saying, not that it would have mattered, and the three of them were conversing in Chinese anyways. Ryoko looked happy, a smile lighting up her face, as did Gabriel, nodding his head as his sister talked. But Takamichi did not look happy, it wasn't as if he was simply tired from his journey, Kyo could tell. The man forced himself to smile; forced himself to look like he was enjoying himself. As Ryoko babbled on, Takamichi's old eyes scanned his daughter, widening when he saw her bare wrists.

Takamichi cut Ryoko off in mid-sentence, grabbing her left wrist and holding it up. In Japanese, “ What have you done?” his strained tone implied his anxious thoughts, as if she might revert to her true form at any moment, “ Why in Buddha's name are you not wearing your beads?” he pressed her. Kyo didn't like the way things were going.

Ryoko started to reply but her father cut her off, “ You know how dangerous it is to not were them!" His eyes darting this way and that, as if afraid the rain might start at any moment. “ Find them, and put them back on!" His demand boosting Kyo's anger meter, he had thought that Ryoko's father loved her.

“ Yes Father." Ryoko replied her eyes downcast. Kyo approached, he wouldn't let Ryoko take this guy's shit anymore, even if he was her father. “ Hey! She doesn't need her beads, okay? She's happy without them, so take a chill pill. Jeez!”

Takamichi half-glared at Kyo, “ Cats can never be happy. I see that you are one as well, a Cat." It was Kyo's turn to look down at his feet; he hated being the Cat. “ My apologies, I haven't introduced myself. I am Ryoko's father, Takamichi Sohma. And you are?" He forced his smile again and held out his hand for Kyo to shake.

“ Kyo." Kyo replied, not taking his hand, he didn't much like Takamichi and he wasn't going to try. He didn't see how Ryoko didn't notice how fake her father was being, it was so obvious to Kyo that he was lying he couldn't understand how Ryoko accepted his fake smiles. Then it hit Kyo. Takamichi must have lied to Ryoko ever since she was little, telling her how much he loved her, when what he must have really longed to do was throw her off a cliff or something. Kyo could see it, Takamichi loathed Cats, and it was why he even bothered to make the effort with his daughter that confused Kyo.

Takamichi went on to say that he was supposed to meet with Akito about something, and would they like to come along and wait in the car. Ryoko agreed that, yes, of course, they would love too. So, waving goodbye to Momiji, Hatsuharu, and Yuki; Ryoko, her family, and Kyo all piled into the limo and sped off.

 

Alone and tired, Takamichi entered Akito's greeting chamber. Akito had had Hatori do some background research on Ryoko's immediate family, and he learned much. He learned that Gabriel had inherited the Chinese Mafia when the previous don had died, he had been Gabriel's grandfather on his mother's side.

He learned that Ryoko's mother had died giving birth to her, and that her father had never forgiven her for it. He learned she had been raped at the age of fourteen and vowed someday to use this knowledge against her. He learned, also, about Ryoko's father.

He learned that Takamichi Sohma had flat-out denied the orders of the previous head of the Sohma family and run off with an Outsider. He then interpreted that, because Takamichi had denied his God- and his own brother at that-, he was feeling very, very guilty. And, what is worse, he was right.

Takamichi threw himself to the tatami-matted floor beneath him. He crawled, humbly, and disgracefully across the room to the area before Akito's feet. His dull eyes fixed on the ground, he whimpered, " I-I'm not worthy, Kami-sama. My Lord, Kami-sama, forgive me for I have sinned." He gave Akito the highest respect one living man could give another, the status of God Himself.

Though Akito was clearly disgusted at what should have been a dignified man's behavior, he was also, in a sick and twisted way, enjoying this display of humiliation.

" You're right." Akito smirked, his lips twisted upward in what could only be called a smile by the mental ill, " You're not worthy. But, I suppose I shall forgive you, if, that is… you beg me for forgiveness." His eyes glinted maliciously, savoring each precious moment of this broken man's submission.

And Takamichi did beg, an awful sight. Like a Dog, kicked too many times, Takamichi presented his person. He whimpered, cried, begged, and pleaded for his Lord's forgiveness. He crouched low before Akito, kissing the hems of his robe, calling him ' Kami-sama'. At long last, Akito held a hand to stay Takamichi's pitiful whining.

" You're forgiven." Akito smirked, a sprite-ish smile playing across his lips.

" Now, what did you come here for? I assume you wanted to ask me something about Ryoko-Neko-perro (Cat-Bitch-Ryoko)?" Knowing full well what the broken Dragon would be asking for, and… what the price would be.

Takamichi looked down, ashamed to be asking anything for a Cat, but feeling obligated to ask for his Daughter. " I know what happens to the Cats after they graduate High School, Kami-sama. I was wondering if-" Takamichi was cut off.

" If I could do different for Ryoko-Neko-perro?" Akito grinned; of course he would let her go. You could get anything you wanted in the world; life was full of possibilities. You could have anything, for the right price. If Ryoko had been the one asking for her freedom, not that she even knew about the Cat's fate what with living in China for most of her life, Akito knew she wouldn't have agreed to the price. But Takamichi, so eager to please his Lord, would agree to any price. No price was too large when someone wanted to get back in favor with his or her God. In fact, Takamichi was so desperate to be in Akito's good graces, that he would murder himself to make Akito happy. And for a man that desperate, the price Akito asked him to agree to have Ryoko pay, did not seem so high.

" The price is…" He waited, drawing out the silence until neither he, nor the Dragon could stand it. " Ryoko's first born child."

Takamichi sighed; his entire posture seemed to say, ' Oh, is that all?' " Of course she will give you her first born, Kami-sama. Domo-arigatou-gozaimasu!" (Thank you so very, very much!)

 

" My WHAT?!" Ryoko's response resonated throughout the limo's interior. After Takamichi had explained that Cats get locked in the Cat's House for the rest of their lives after High School, Ryoko had silently resolved to run away. She had waited in sick anticipation as to what the price had been for her freedom, and flipped.

" Stop this car! Stop it right now!" She yelled, screamed, and stamped her feet. She had every right in the world to act childish. Her own father, her father, had basically sold her out to the one person in the world she hated more than Taichii Okinawa, Akito Sohma.

Her father's attempts to calm his daughter only resulted in more fits and bursts of rage. Kyo couldn't believe it either; he was now dead sure that Takamichi didn't love his daughter. He was sure, that Takamichi loved only himself.

 

A few moments after Takamichi had, bowing and scraping the floor, left Akito, a figure removed itself from the shadows. Akito turned and smiled back at the man behind him, the man's face shrouded in shadow. Akito spoke first; " There you have it, then. She's ripe and ready for the taking, you know. I'd steal her away now, if I were you, before she gets too attached to that freak Kyo."

The mysterious man's perfect lips moved upward in a demon's imitation at a smile, " She'll be walking, I can catch up to her quite easily. Thank you, Akito-sama. I have more than I need to complete my original task." This being said in a rather oily voice, the man walked to the door.

" One question." Akito's statement made the man hesitate, " Why have you come back? I was under the impression that you were quite dead." Not that it mattered to Akito; they had already come to terms with what the man wanted from Ryoko.

The man smirked, twisting his red tie beneath his fingertips, thinking of just what it was he was going to do to Ryoko once he got hold of her. " I've come back for a very simple reason, Akito-sama." His brown eyes glittered.

" To break her."

 

Ryoko charged down the sidewalk, Kyo hot on her heels. " I'm never speaking to him again!" She cried, nevertheless fishing her beads out of her pocket, she'd learned her lesson the first time it rained. " How could he do this to me?! I'm SO not speaking to him ever again!"

Kyo, not for the first time, could completely sympathize with her. She felt betrayed. Everyone had experienced betrayal at some point in their lives, the Zodiac just more than others had. He caught up to her, catching her arm, bringing her into a tight embrace. " It's all right, I love you Ryoko." He soothed her, pacified her, and stroked her hair. Gently scratched her behind the ears, the caress no self-respecting Cat could ever resist.

She calmed against him, letting her stress melt away. Breathing easier now that Kyo was there beside her. Their heartbeats mingled together, their breaths steadying together. Ryoko whispered against Kyo's chest, " There's something I need to tell you Kyo. It's such a big deal to me, not just because he's my Father and all, but for another reason all together. The price of Freedom is closer to being paid than you think."

Kyo's heart sped up again. He could hear the capital 'F' on Freedom, and more than that. He was shaking all over; Ryoko wasn't going to say what he thought she was going to say… was she?

Ryoko pulled away from Kyo, keeping her arms wrapped around him. She looked him in the eye, " I went to see Hatori a few days ago and, well… I-I'm-" Her confession was cut short by the arrival of the mysterious man who had been conversing with Akito.

" My, my, Ryoko-neko." The man interrupted nastily, savoring the look on both teenagers' faces. " It's been far, far too long. You haven't forgotten me, have you?" His smirk betraying his unparalleled delight as all the blood left in Ryoko's face went running for cover.

 

She turned at the sound of a voice she hoped she'd never have to hear again in her life. Her eyes widening, her heart racing, the happy place she'd had a moment ago was gone. It was as far away as she wanted to run from this man. And believe me, that was very, very far indeed.

She could hardly believe it was him. But there he was, standing in front of her. With his wicked brown eyes, greasy black hair, and perfect-lipped smile, she knew who he was, oh yes, she knew. How could she not know the image, red tie and all, of the man who had raped her, so many years ago?

Taichii Okinawa.